June 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 435 



Treatment of Extracted Honey* 



W. A. GOO DACRE, Senior Apiary Inspector. 



Honey when first drained from the honey extractor contains a certain 

 amount of wax pieces ; it is, therefore, advisa,ble to have a strainer fitted to 

 the top of the honey tank. The honey is then strained before entering the 

 tank. When the tank i^ filled it should be securely covered, and a sound 

 piece of cloth put over the lid and fastened by strong string twitched tightly 

 round the ledge ; this offers protection from insects or stray ants that might 

 happen to gain access to the tank — the" lid itself rarely fits as tight as is 

 desirable. The tank being thus filled and securely covered, the honey should 

 be allowed. to remain for about four days, during which time it will clear and 

 will also go through some ripening process by evaporation of moisture. 



At the end of four or five days, if care has been taken in \ he first instance to 

 have the honey well sealed by the bees, the apiarist will have a clear, refined 

 product that has, in the first place, been ripened by the bees, then strained 

 and allowed to clear, and further improved by ripenings in the tank. If, 

 during warm, dry days, the apiarist is working about the honey house, a 

 further improvement in the ripening will take place if the covering is removec^ 

 from the tank for a time. Of course, this is not practicable if there is any 

 chance of bees, &c., getting into the honey. The covering should be replaced 

 towards afternoon. 



When preparing to tin off, the honey should first be skimmed and then 

 drained off into t,he containers in which it is to be marketed. When the 

 honey is low in the tank, the apiarist can tilt the tank towards the tap ; this 

 will allow a further quantity to come out clear. When all the clear honey has 

 been tinned off, the remainder, which will contain a certain quantity of wax 

 pieces, can be drained into a small vessel with a honey gate at the bottom ; 

 this honey, if warmed, will clear quickly, and can be tinned off down to the 

 wax pieces, which are in the form of scum. 



The above is the usual and effective method for the treatment of extracted 

 honey. In some cases it is desired to heat honey for the purpose of giving it 

 a briahter appearance and extra density, and also for blending purposes. 

 The question of heating honey is best left to the individual apiarist, who will 

 be guided by the taste of his customers, or the quality desired for market. 

 Honey that has gone through a correct heating process will no doubt appeal 

 to many on account of its appearance and density. 



Heating Extracted Honey. 



The correct time for heating honey largely depends on when the apiarist 

 desires to' dispose of his crop. For instance, if the honey is to be sold within 

 -a few weeks, it will be advisable to combine the heating with the extracting 



